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Portland Rotary will meet this week at the
Holiday Inn By-the-Bay
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Posted by Justin Lamontagne
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 Phil Coupe is a managing partner and co-founder of ReVision Energy, a certified B Corp, as well as the largest solar energy company in northern New England. Since 2003, the company has installed more than 5,000 solar energy systems in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts as part of its long-term mission to transition the region from a fossil fuel-based economy to a sustainable renewable energy-based economy.
In addition to its core energy-related mission, Phil and his business partners believe that the company should be utilized as a powerful force for positive social change and thus pursued B Corp certification to more strongly signal that intention to its 100+ employees and the broader public.
Prior to leading the startup of ReVision Energy’s Portland branch in 2006, Phil was co-founder & director of corporate philanthropy at DrinkMore Water in Washington, DC. The company, which ultra-purifies municipal water to create a lower-cost alternative to bottled spring water, twice made the Inc.500 list of fastest-growing companies in America and received numerous awards for its commitment to serving disadvantaged children and for its environmental initiatives....the company’s offices are 100% powered by renewable energy.
Phil was involved in the startup of two other successful businesses during his 12 years in Washington, and served as a board member of the Community Volunteer Council for 5 years. In 1999 he became a Big Brother and continues to work with his original match. He also serves on the boards of the Environmental & Energy Technology Council of Maine (E2Tech) and Envision Maine, and is chair of Maine Audubon's Corporate Partner Program.
He lives in southern Maine with his wife and three young children.
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Posted by Bob Martin
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Michael Norton, Director of External Affairs for Hannaford, shared with us some of the challenges faced by Maine’s favorite grocery chain. Hannaford Brothers was founded as a private company in 1902 when Howard and Edward Hannaford joined their brother Arthur, who had a small produce store. (Edward was one of Portland Rotary’s founding members.) Michael shared, after hearing John Marr report on a 1945 Portland Rotary speaker who brought a banana tree to the meeting, that the “most purchased item” in Hannaford stores were bananas. In fact, he added, the highlight of school tours of the firm’s distribution facility is the banana room with its high-tech equipment to regulate light and temperature.
Today, Michael said that Hannaford has 10,000 employees in Maine working in 70 stores. All told, Hannaford has 180 stores across New England, New York, and in other states, with a total of 27,000 employees. They are part of the Ahold/Delhaize group of Belgium and the Netherlands (merger soon to be completed), which will have 375,000 employees serving 50 million customers per week in the U.S. and Europe. “We know we need to be a strong company with a strategic vision,” he said. “We are focused on health and nutrition.” Michael said that Edward Hannaford was deeply involved with community service, a tradition that continues with Hannaford in strategic partnerships with food-related non-profits. “Hunger is an area where we have aspirations to be able to eliminate hunger.”
Michael said that Hannaford was very active in the mission to eliminate hunger in Maine. “We are a food company that sells a lot of fresh food, with the capacity to deliver a lot of volume. We bring the ability to bring food and money to that group of people who are challenged by hunger.” Hannaford has found ways to increase donations of food. In 2013, he said, Hannaford contributed 7.2 million pounds of food. “We doubled that in 2014, and we expect to have donated 20 million pounds in 2015.” In addition to food donated by Hannaford, customers have purchased over 100,000 boxes of food for delivery to those in need. “We’ve also designed a reusable plastic grocery bag, and priced it so that the extra money charged actually covers the cost of a meal for a hungry person. We’ve donated 415,000 meals that way.” Michael also said that a new, higher-priced bag would direct a dollar to the youth-development charity of the customer’s choice. “In the first few months of this program, we’ve raised $45,000.”
In response to questions, Michael said that 40 stores were on track for zero waste, and the chain was skilled in logistics efficiencies, but that donations to food banks were up because of store growth in the amount of fresh food available for sale. He acknowledged that the firm is only able to purchase a limited amount of “locally-sourced” food, except in certain categories.....broccoli, for example, is a “Maine product.” He acknowledged that the stores do sell a lot of products with high amounts of sugar and salt, but “we found in a 2006 survey that our customers do not want us to tell them what to buy. They want our guidance, however, and that’s why we created the 'Guiding Stars' program.”
Several members thanked Michael for Hannaford’s support of the local soup kitchen, which now serves over 1,000 meals per day, something impossible without the support of the chain.
(Photo: President Bowen Depke, Michael Norton and Rusty Atwood)
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Posted by Bill Blount
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57 Portland Rotarians, 1 visiting Rotarian and 4 guests joined us as President Bowen welcomed everyone to the first weekly meeting of 2016 at the Holiday Inn By-the-Bay. Presenting us with our invocation, Tom Nickerson asked us to use our strengths to seek the strengths in others for opportunities to take action. In the absence of a regular-size American flag, Kathy Grammer raised the mini flags on the keyboard and we pledged to our country. Russ Burleigh led us with the patriotic song, "America the Beautiful," sung to a different arrangement.
As we dined, some of the table-talk topics were about the mild weather, the biggest Power Ball drawing in US history and the different ways we celebrated the holidays. President Bowen reconvened our meeting by introducing our guests.
Past President John Marr gave us our history moment of 1944, 1945 and 1946, which John called the "Wah Yeahs." Mussolini was captured at the Swiss border.....Hitler committed suicide.....FDR passed away, succeeded by Harry Truman. The atomic bombs brought a hastened conclusion to the conflict with Japan; the country wisely enhanced the skills of our returning soldiers with the GI Bill; Clement Robinson served as one of our Rotary Presidents; youth, race and religion were Rotary and national concerns, not unlike the present day, John observed.
President Bowen called Amy Chipman to lead us in song. Amy asked Bill Blount to assist. Bill took a moment to reflect on 2015, where we lost Rotarians Bob Patten, Charlie McKee and Gene Story. .jpg) Amy and Bill both also lost their mothers, but the circle of life and hope was exemplified in no small part by Janelle LoSciuto accompanied by her very-well-behaved newborn son, Luca.
January birthdays were also announced and celebrated with our singing "Happy Birthday" to a number of our members.
Loretta Rowe conducted the weekly raffle, with George Crockett’s name drawn by our speaker, who in turn drew the five of diamonds in his failed bid to win $889.
Immediate Past President Kris Rosado came to the podium to give some "Happy Dollars" – one reason was that he was proud to say his son had been accepted at West Point; second reason....because a few Rotarians had recently done something nice for him. As a way to 'Pay it Forward,' he was donating the funds to make someone who was not already one, a sustaining Paul Harris Fellow. As he pulled name after name out of the pot of members who were already sustaining members, this action showed that we have many with that designation in our club. The winning member's name pulled was Jean Murachanian, making her our newest sustaining PHF.
 Justin Lamontagne announced an event brought to us by PROPEL, the young professional organization that is an off-shoot of the Greater Portland Chamber of Commerce, bringing together professionals to network. They have named the Portland Rotary Club as its honoree for 'Service to the Community.' A celebration at the Rising Tide Brewery will occur on Thursday, January 28, 2016. The admission is free, but a donation of $5-$10 is suggested and will be matched by PROPEL to benefit Portland Rotary. Old duffers and young duffers.....get your tickets on line at: http://www.propelportland.org/focus-spotlight-portland-rotary-club/#more-3483
President Bowen brought it to the club’s attention that Jon Young is in New England Rehab with a serious, but treatable condition. Of course, cards are welcome. Please call his wife, Susan, for recommendations on visiting Jon.
President Bowen gave us his own history moment, reflecting on the state of affairs in 1916. The city speed limit was 10 mph. Legislators were asked to consider how to deal with cars that can be expected to go 70 mph. Male life expectancy was 47 years of age. 95% of births occurred at home. The minimum wage was 22 cents per hour. Nationally there were 230 murders.
Erik Greven announced that the Portland Rotarian bell ringers for the Salvation Army during the season added $1181 to the Portland Corp’s $192,000 holiday donations. A record for the Corps and testament to the generosity of the Portland Maine community.
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Three weeks ago at our December 18th meeting, we thanked Joan Steinberg (Russ Burleigh's better half) for knitting more than 150 pairs of mittens over the past year for children in need of them from wool that was donated by our club Rotarians. The mittens were transported that afternoon and given to two ladies at the Lyseth Elementary School in Portland. Two of our members, Jim Willey and Dave Small, brought in more yarn last week and Joan is already hard at work knitting mittens for next December's delivery to help keep the children warm.
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Posted by Kris Rosado
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The 2016 Maine Outdoor Challenge (MOC) will take place June 6-8, 2016 and our committee will be having its first meeting at the location and date/time below. This is the 5th anniversary of our major fundraiser and we need several volunteers to step up and join our committee. New or seasoned members, all are welcome. Come to this committee meeting and learn about the event and see if you can play an active and meaningful role in this, our primary fundraiser.
If you plan to attend, please contact Kris Rosado at: kris.rosado@morganstanley.com, so he knows how much Kobe Beef and champagne to order for lunch. (ie: Pizza and soda!!)
When: Monday, January 25th
12 noon – 1:15 pm - lunch provided
Where: Boys and Girls Clubhouse
277 Cumberland Ave, Portland
Thank you.
Kris Rosado, Chair, MOC
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Invocation: Kathy Grammer
Program Reporter: Jake Bourdeau
Bits & Pieces Reporter: Alan Nye
Registration/Greeter: Linda Varrell
Sell Meal Tickets: Rusty Atwood
Raffle: Katie Brown
Badge Box: Jake Bourdeau
Collect Meal Tickets: Jerry Angier
Rotary Moment in History: Jan Chapman 1947-50
Song Leader: Bill Blount
Pianist: Russ Burleigh
Sgt-at-Arms (Early): Chase Bowker
Sgt-at-Arms (Late): Jim Willey
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If you would like to mark your calendars, we are
at the following locations through March 2016:
2016:
Jan 15 - Holiday Inn By-the-Bay
Jan 22 - Holiday Inn By-the-Bay
Jan 29 - The Clarion Hotel
Feb 05 - The Clarion Hotel
Feb 12 - Holiday Inn By-the-Bay
Feb 19 - Holiday Inn By-the-Bay
Feb 26 - The Clarion Hotel
Mar 04 - Merrill Auditorium
Mar 11 - The Clarion Hotel
Mar 18 - Holiday Inn By-the-Bay
Mar 25 - Holiday Inn By-the-Bay
Blue BOLD dates are scheduled Board meeting days.
Any questions, please contact Loretta at: lrowe@maine.rr.com
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As we receive applications for prospective members to join our Portland Rotary Club, the names of the applicants will be included in our Windjammer. Any information and/or comments you would like to share will be handled confidentially. Please contact the Club Secretary (Loretta Rowe: lrowe@maine.rr.com). Your input will be appreciated.
PROSPECT BUSINESS SPONSOR(S)
Courtney Bell HCA Healthcare/ Kathy Grammer
Parallon Supply
Chain
Thank you.
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Read more...
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Posted by Bill Blount
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THE ROTARY DOUBLES TENNIS LEAGUE
This week starts the Rotary Tennis
Winter/Spring Session 2016
Week two scores are:
| TEAM 1 |
TEAM 2 |
TEAM 3 |
TEAM 4 |
TEAM 5 |
TEAM 6 |
| Thompson |
Blakeslee |
Gross |
Bourdeau |
Seddon |
Barns |
| Ingram |
Blount |
Noyes |
Ray |
Moore |
Hall |
| Herodes |
Asch |
Putnam |
Nickerson |
Chipman |
Jorgensen |
| St Hilaire |
Houghton |
Burleigh |
Grammer |
Carr |
L.Young |
| 2 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
4 |
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